MULTAN: The Collectorate of Customs has generated Rs2.54 million through auctioning off the consignment of foreign-origin fresh dates.
Huge number of bidders participated in the auction of Iranian-origin dates which was held at Multan Dry Port.
Bidders were offered foreign-origin dates at a cheaper rate than market prices. Customs teams intercepted dates in their action which were auctioned after two days because they are perishable items.
It is pertinent to mention here that Multan Customs Anti-Smuggling Organization impounded a truck loaded with a huge quantity of fresh Iranian dates which were seized from Dera Ghazi Khan. The seized dates were smuggled from Iran through Balochistan and transported to Punjab through Dera Ghazi Khan region.
According to Customs Valuation, almost $0.20 per kilogram customs duty is imposed on import of Iranian origin dates and the recovered fresh dates were almost 19,251 kilograms which were packed in the 2,986 cartons in weight and quantity.
Local fruit sellers from fruit market offered bids in the auction and local fruit seller has purchased consignment of fresh dates after successful bid of Rs2.54 million.